Bracket Analysis: East Region

Jamal Murray

Prior to the season, the North Carolina Tar Heels were many people's National Title pick, and it is easy to see why. Coming off a Sweet 16 berth, UNC had All-American guard Marcus Paige, senior forward Brice Johnson, big man Kennedy Meeks and rising Justin Jackson all at their disposal. Although there were some early struggles, the Tar Heels ended the season flaming hot, getting vengeance against arch-rival Duke, winning the ACC regular season title and sneaking past Virginia to win the ACC Tournament crown. Paige has had some ups-and-downs this year, but up front, Brice Johnson has been an absolute monster all year long, and forward Isaiah Hicks is really coming into his own. The Tar Heels will not have an easy trip deep into the Tournament. A second round meeting with the winner of USC/Providence could very well be an upset alert, and a Sweet 16 meeting with possibly Kentucky/Indiana also spell peril. Yet, UNC is an extremely deep and experienced team that can score in a plethora of ways. They are certainly going to be a dangerous team, though my big question is going to be late in games. Roy Williams has become notorious for not calling timeouts late in games (see the first Duke meeting) and the Tar Heels have choked too often late in games during the Williams era. Can they really reel off six straight wins, with many of them likely coming down to the closing minutes? We'll have to wait and see.

My favorite upset pick in this region has to be Chattanooga over Indiana, in a classic 5/12 battle. The Chattanooga Mocs were one of the few top seeds in the low major conferences to actually win their conference tournament, as they hung on to win the Southern Conference in impressive fashion. The Mocs can score in a hurry, and also defend the three-point ball exceptionally well. Guards Tre' McLean and Greg Pryor will certainly play an important role, as the main offensive weapons against a Hoosiers' defense that has been average at best this season. The Hoosiers rely heavily on the three-point ball, particularly from senior Yogi Ferrell and underrated Robert Johnson. Though, the Mocs rotate as well as everybody and could put a lock-down on Indiana, which could set the stage for the upset. That most likely set up a meeting with Kentucky in the second round (assuming the Wildcats move on past Stony Brook), which could pit the well-rounded Mocs against Kentucky's elite backcourt. 12 seeds have done plenty of damage in March over the past few years, and this year could be very similar. Although not perfect, the Mocs could very well be one of the major Cinderellas in this year's tourney.

Give John Calipari credit where credit is due. Sure, bringing in McDonald's All-Americans almost looks easy to Coach Cal nowadays but coaching a team of 18 and 19-year-olds through a rigorous schedule year in, year out is no easy task. Though, Calipari always seems to have his Kentucky teams riding a wave of momentum when March comes around, and the same holds true this year. The Wildcats are coming off an SEC Tournament Title, after very nearly missing the regular season title. The Wildcats will be headed by two of the best guards in the game, in sophomore Tyler Ulis and true freshman Jamal Murray. Ulis has evolved from simply a great passer and floor general into a legit scorer, evidenced by his huge day in the SEC Championship, when he dropped 30. Murray can drop big-time numbers every single team he steps on the court, a guy who can snipe from deep and also use his exceptional athleticism to finish. Kentucky is still searching for more consistent play from their big men, but versatile Derek Willis has had his moments and senior Alex Poythress will bring valuable experience to the equation. Stony Brook could be a sneaky first round matchup, but I think Kentucky should be well prepared and should be able to overpower the Seawolves. Indiana/Chattanooga could be a very interesting second round meeting, and then obviously a possible showdown with fellow college basketball blue blood program, North Carolina. UNC has struggled at times to stop explosive offenses, and one could argue Kentucky is even hotter. I think if Murray and Ulis continue to play well and the Wildcats get solid contributions from their bench, this could very well be a Final Four team. Outside of the inconsistent Tar Heels and the third-seeded West Virginia, the East Region is not exactly impossible, and Calipari has a knack for deep March runs. They could very well use their impressive talent to make it yet another memorable March in the Bluegrass State.

Confusing is just one way to describe West Virginia. Obviously you can point to their "Press Virginia" and up-tempo style as the most notable thing about this year's Mountaineers team, but you could also choose to focus on just how incredibly inconsistent they are. West Virginia has had moments where they look like a legit Top Five squad, when their full-court press is working to perfection, and when they are hitting their shots from the perimeter. Then, they can also have moments like an earlier loss to Florida, who isn't in the field, in which they couldn't do anything offensively and looked almost lost out there. I think the X-factor for the Mountaineers has to be big man Devin Williams. On a team full of capable and talented guards, Williams has emerged as WVU's most consistent offensive force. Few teams can match the big man's raw power in the low post, and he is a very underrated athlete, particularly when you consider his size. Though, much like the team as a whole, Williams has had some moments where he is just simply off. If he doesn't really have a great March, this team could be very vulnerable against teams that have more talent and depth in the frontcourt. Stephen F. Austin will be an intriguing first round meeting for the Mountaineers. The Lumberjacks have been a popular dark horse pick over the past two years, but haven't really delivered. Though, wing Thomas Walkup is maybe the nation's most underrated scorer, and the Lumberjacks are about as consistent as they come, really contrasting WVU. Who knows, this West Virginia team could falter completely against SFA... Or they could catch absolute fire and play very deep into the tourney. But, teams like WVU are what makes March interesting and insane, and they'll add plenty of intrigue to the region.

Through the first half of this season, Wisconsin was looking very un-Wisconsin-like. The Badgers, a longtime staple at the top of the Big Ten standings, were struggling mightily. They missed Frank Kaminsky and Sam Dekker, and Bo Ryan's patented "swing" offense seemed to all of the sudden fall apart. Then, Greg Gard took over, and the outlook completely changed. Longtime viewed as the mentor to Ryan, Gard did not disappoint a bit, as the Badgers reeled off 11 wins in 12 games at one point during the season, including wins over Indiana, Michigan State and Maryland. Gard has let the Badgers seemingly play more free and less rigid, and it has resulted in big seasons from Nigel Hayes, Bronson Koenig and a number of other veterans. Hayes,especially, has to be seen as one of the major X-factors not just for Wisconsin, but in the entire region. Hayes has some amazing moments but much like Williams, can seemingly not make any impact at times. If the junior can help lead Wisconsin past a relatively weak Pittsburgh first-round meeting the Badgers could be very interesting down the stretch. Xavier is getting overlooked in my opinion, but Wisconsin could smother their offense, and the Badgers are a more complete team than either of their likely Sweet 16 meetings, either West Virginia or Notre Dame. It may be tough to imagine Wisconsin going to their third straight Final Four, as some serious magic would have to occur. But, March is crazy, and the Badgers have enough experience to make things interesting.

Picking the East Region
First Round
1 UNC over 16 Florida Gulf Coast... The Eagles actually played very well in their First Four victory over Fairleigh Dickinson. But, they just don't the roster to compete and beat the Heels over the course of 40 minutes.
9 Providence over 8 USC... Andy Enfield's revival of USC has been a great story this year, but the Trojans have nobody than score and make plays quite like the Friars' Kris Dunn.
12 Chattanooga over 5 Indiana... If Hoosiers struggle from downtown in this one, the Mocs could ride their stingy defense and efficient offense to a big upset.
4 Kentucky over 13 Stony Brook... Although 'Cats search for low post scoring is still ongoing, the backcourt of Jamal Murray, Tyler Ulis and even Isaiah Briscoe is too much for SB to handle.
6 Notre Dame over 11 Michigan... The Irish have quietly put together a solid encore to their Elite Eight berth a year ago. Demetrius Jackson and big man Zach Auguste put them over the top against Michigan here.
3 West Virginia over 14 Stephen F. Austin... Stephen F. Austin does have plenty of experience and toughness, but even they might panic against West Virginia's frantic, up-tempo style.
7 Wisconsin over 10 Pittsburgh... Both of these teams play smart, tough and controlled basketball. Though, the Badgers just have a little bit more scoring punch, headed by Nigel Hayes.
2 Xavier over 15 Weber State... Don't overlook the Musketeers this season. They consistently do well in March and have a potent backcourt, led by Trevon Bluiett.

Second Round
1 UNC over 9 Providence... This could be one heck of a test for North Carolina early, but outside of Ben Bentil Providence lacks the necessary big men to counteract Brice Johnson, Kennedy Meeks and Isaiah Hicks down low.
4 Kentucky over 12 Chattanooga... The Wildcats should end Chattanooga's Cinderella run quickly, particularly if they can control the pace of the game.
3 West Virginia over 6 Notre Dame... The advantage in low post scoring may actually go to Notre Dame, but the Mountaineers should make up for it with their attacking, basketball for 40 minutes, which could expose some Irish depth issues.
2 Xavier over 7 Wisconsin... Few teams are tougher to overcome in March than either of these two schools. While the Badgers second half play has been a great story, they don't have the offensive weapons needed to slow down Xavier.

Sweet 16
4 Kentucky over 1 UNC... Maybe I'm buying way too much into the Kentucky hype, but this team is scorching hot and when it comes down to the final 30 seconds, I trust John Calipari more than I trust Roy Williams.
3 West Virginia over 2 Xavier... Interesting matchup between efficient and methodical Xavier, and hectic West Virginia. Though, WVU's advantage in this tournament is that "Press Virginia", which so many teams aren't ready for, and won't have a ton of time to prepare against.

Elite Eight
4 Kentucky over 3 West Virginia... The last time these two teams met in the Elite Eight, the Mountaineers stunned John Wall and Kentucky. The Wildcats should be able to get vengeance, particularly with Tyler Ulis, who never seems to turn it over, leading the charge.

East Region Champion: 4 Kentucky Wildcats 

Bracket Analysis: Midwest Region

The Harrison twins

The pursuit of perfection continues for the Kentucky Wildcats who finished off their regular season and conference postseason a flawless 34-0 and have a shot to be the first men's college basketball team to win 40 games, if they go undefeated in the tournament. Though, the committee did the Wildcats very little favors in their side of the bracket, especially the region. Even so, few teams can match the size of Kentucky down low. Willie Cauley-Stein isn't just a huge dunker or shot-blocker; he is a legit-seven footer with a variety of moves on the block and beautiful polish around the rim, while true freshman Karl Anthony-Towns gets better every single game. The Wildcats would love another great postseason from Aaron Harrison, who hit three clutch threes in three different games to help guide the Wildcats to a National Championship berth, but even if they don't, they have reinforcements. Devin Booker is a much better shooter than either of the Harrison twins and has superb size, while Tyler Ulis has shown amazing composure late in games. Kentucky should clearly roll through the winner of Manhattan and 16-17 Hampton, but Purdue could give them a relative challenge, as they have some great size too. Even so, Kentucky is by far and away the team to put in the Field of 68 and stopping them will be a tough, tough order, though not completely impossible.

The crazy, wreaking press of West Virginia (nicknamed "Press Virginia") helped turn Bob Huggins' team from a bottom feeder inside the Big 12 a year ago to a 23-9 team and a five seed. Though, the Mountaineers should be prepared for an upset against MAC Champion Buffalo, especially if WVU's star guard Juwan Staten is not 100 %. The Bulls can run up and down the floor with anyone, but are much stronger and taller than West Virginia, which could clearly become a major factor. Forward Justin Moss nearly averages a double-double per game, and Buffalo has enough ball-handlers that they could survive the Mountaineers' pressure. If West Virginia doesn't hit some big shots, Bobby Hurley's Buffalo squad could get a huge victory, and the winner of Maryland/Valparaiso better be on guard.

Lately, things just haven't gone Kansas' way in the Big Dance. The Jayhawks have had a long history of high seeds and occasional upsets but aside from a National Championship appearance a few years ago with forward Thomas Robinson, the Jayhawks have struggled in March. First, there was that huge upset by Northern Iowa in the second round of a tournament in which Kansas was a No. 1 seed, there was that near half-courter by Trey Burke to guide Michigan to a Sweet 16 win, and then just last year Stanford handled Andrew Wiggins and Joel Embiid in the third round. Now, Kansas is in the toughest region of the tournament, where the tough games start right away in the third round, assuming the Jayhawks handle 15-seeded New Mexico State. Wichita State was given a seven seed a year after finishing the regular season undefeated and they could give Kansas an extremely tough fight in the third round, assuming they can take down the struggling Indiana Hoosiers. If the Jayhawks do survive they could have a date with the winner of Butler/Notre Dame and eventually a matchup with Kentucky could loom. Sure, Kansas has a ton of talent and has the consistency at point guard in Frank Mason they haven't had the past few years, but they will have a very tough time doing much damage this March.

Mike Brey's first season in the ACC was a disaster at Notre Dame in 2013-2014. The Irish struggled to score, defend and do pretty much anything else and were eliminated in the first round of the ACC Tournament. A year later, Brey's Fighting Irish are coming off a ACC Tournament Championship and are a major Final Four dark horse. Guards Jerian Grant and Demetrius Jackson will give teams fits. Grant is more of a scorer, a strong athletic guard who has unlimited range while Jackson has improved wildly as a sophomore and will lead the offense. Pat Connaughton is a problem for anyone to guard as he can space the floor as well as anyone. And, the Irish have pretty good size underneath, led by superb center Zach Auguste. Northeastern, making their first tourney appearance in decades, haven't seen a team with the balance and depth of Notre Dame while making Colonial Athletic Association opponents. There is some worry that the Irish could have moments where they can't get anything going offensively whatsoever, as was the case in the second half against Miami in the ACC Quarterfinals, but even so, the Irish are a seriously scary team and could make a serious run to at least the Elite Eight.

The magic of the Brad Stevens era at Butler has not completely faded. After a one-year absence under head coach Brandon Miller (resigned prior to the season with health issues), the Bulldogs are back and ready to mess up some brackets as a dangerous six seed. The return of guard/forward Roosevelt Jones has been huge for the Bulldogs, who have been very dangerous inside Big East play. Guard Kellen Dunham also has been huge, and could play a very similar role to the one that Shelvin Mack played when Butler went on those consecutive Final Four runs under Stevens. Texas snuck into the field as an 11-seed despite an extremely poor resume. Despite being a preseason Top 10 team, the Longhorns limped to a 20-13 record, that included a sub-.500 conference record of 8-10. A healthy Isaiah Taylor could give Butler some issues but the fundamentally-sound Bulldogs are very scary. Notre Dame better be on the lookout in the third round, as should the region as a whole.

Midwest Picks
Second Round

1 Kentucky over
16 Manhattan (beats Hampton in First Four)

Can Kentucky Go Undefeated?

Willie Cauley-Stein

It has been nearly three decades since the Indiana Hoosiers went 32-0 in the 1975-1976 season, becoming the last college basketball team to finish a season with zero in the losses column. Sure, there have been times that have been close since then. Just a few years later the Larry Bird-led Indiana State Sycamores were flawless until an NCAA Tournament Championship loss to Magic Johnson and Michigan State, and just this past season Wichita State was undefeated before a third round loss in the tournament to none other than Kentucky. But, someday, it is bound to happen, that a team is just too dominant not to be denied a flawless record. Could this be that season? Could John Calipari's Army of McDonald's All-Americans do something that hasn't been done in years?

The 2014-2015 Wildcats have been built on three things: size, depth and defense, which has translated to a flaming hot 23-0 start, that has included a 32-point walloping of Kansas, along with victories over Texas, Louisville and UNC. That size has been key to the Wildcats' suffocating defense, which could be the best in the entire nation. Led by a frontline that includes seven-footers Willie Cauley-Stein and Karl Towns (both shot-blocking machines), along with bullying big man Dakari Johnson, plus a perimeter defense that is stifling with Tyler Ulis and Dominique Hawkins, the 'Cats have allowed over 70 points just once on the year, in their SEC opener to Ole Miss that went into double overtime. Their depth is also crazy impressive, even without junior forward Alex Poythress (out for the remainder of the season), something that comes naturally when you have nine McDonald's All-Americans on your roster. One thing is clear in Lexington, that has been clear all year long and really, throughout Coach Cal's tenure; they are crazy talented. When the Harrison twins are playing smart and aggressive, when Towns is physical, when Devin Booker is shooting well and when Johnson utilizes his wide frame in the low post, there isn't a team in the entire nation that matches up with them.

Yet, this is not a team of robots that comes out every single night on their "A" game. They are still young, even with the unusual presence of upperclassmen under Calipari, and they will be prone to mistakes. Too often Kentucky's offense gets stuck in the half-court and doesn't know what to do when they aren't out in transition. The Wildcats turn the ball over way too often, something that is clearly very typical for young teams, and other than Booker, they don't really have a proven shooter. The Harrisons have their moments but lack general consistency from deep, and Ulis is not much of a scorer, let alone a shooter. Though for those deficiencies, this team always seems to have answers. In crunch time against Ole Miss, Texas A&M and just this past night against Florida on the road, a young team answered the bell. They control the ball much better in the second half, and always seem to get the job done at the free throw line. Few teams in the history of the sport can be so young but yet so strong in crunch time, an obvious reason why the Wildcats are 23-0 and even if they don't finish the year undefeated, they will clearly be a major threat in the tourney.

The Wildcats' season is far from over, and now is the crunch time when too many strong teams fall apart. Mid-February to early March is hazardous for many top teams, especially ones with an undefeated record. Conference play is in full bloom, and night after night you have to perform your best. Many teams get caught looking ahead to the tourney, something Kentucky can not afford to do. Sure, the SEC is not the deep, talented basketball conference as it is in football, but it is full of scary, dark horse teams that can come out any night and take down the Wildcats. Most notably of the teams remaining on Kentucky's roster; a trip this Tuesday to a hostile environment in Baton Rouge to take on sophomore Jordan Mickey and LSU, the upset-minded South Carolina Gamecocks just days later, and a three-game stretch to end the regular season that includes Arkansas, Georgia and Florida. Even if Kentucky does get through that the SEC Tournament awaits just days later, and after that an NCAA Tournament, where of course, anything can happen. Clearly there is a reason why no team has gone undefeated since Indiana back in '75-'76. Conference play is grueling and the Tournament is a six-game crazy couple weeks (Indiana did not play in the modern era of 68 teams, the 64-team was set a decade later in 1985).

The odds are stacked against Kentucky, there shouldn't be much denying. Sure, they have a crazy-talented stockpile of playmakers and anybody on their team can get scorching hot when the team needs it. But, the Wildcats have a tough schedule remaining, no matter what you think about the SEC. Anybody in the conference can come out at any time and strike, and the conference tournament could also expose them. And, then there is the NCAA Tournament, that includes 67 of the other best teams in NCAA Basketball. Though, don't write any chances of Kentucky finishing up flawless completely off. They have the depth (especially when Trey Lyles, who has missed the last three games returns) the defense, and the weapons to get the job done. While the 'Cats may need some magic along the way, Indiana's long hold on the last true unbeaten of college basketball may come to an end after three decades, though not likely, as there is just too much standing in the way between now and April when the NCAA champ is crowned.

Who Could Beat Them? (Remaining Tough Games)
@LSU Tigers (17-6) on February 10th: Quietly, Johnny Jones has built a program to be reckoned with in Baton Rouge. The Tigers sit at 17-6 and in great position to make a tournament bid (plus, five-star recruit Ben Simmons arrives next year) and have a ton of versatility in the frontcourt. Though, they need to hit some big threes, as they do not have the size Kentucky has up front.

Arkansas Razorbacks (18-5) on February 28th: Arkansas pulled off a memorable upset against the Wildcats a year ago, and may be in good position to do much the same this year, in their lone opportunity in the regular season to hunt the 'Cats. Forward Bobby Portis has been a stud this year and his floor-stretching ability will greatly challenge the Wildcats' defense.

Florida Gators (12-11) on March 7th: It has not been a fun year for Billy Donovan and the Gators. Without their four senior studs, the Gators have struggled, losing close game after close game to falter to a 12-11 mark. Though, they are still extremely talented, with Michael Frazier a deadly three-point shooter and the versatile Dorian Finney-Smith.

College Basketball Preview 2013-14: 1. Kentucky Wildcats

1. Kentucky  Wildcats Lost in NIT

Last year's Kentucky squad had their usual load of McDonald's All-Americans but they could never get things together. Ryan Harrow wasn't an impact point guard, Kyle Wiltjer wasn't the difference-maker he was expected to be and the team never gelled. Not to mention Nerlens Noels' year-ending injury. This year, John Calipari brings in possibly the best recruiting class in college basketball history. Power forward Julius Randle should bring immediate scoring at the four spot, the Harrison twins should manage the backcourt and James Young is a quality swingman. Dakari Johnson has the talent to be an impact center from the beginning.

Backcourt: The big issue for Kentucky last year was point guard as Ryan Harrow struggled with inconsistency and turnovers. Archie Goodwin is gone and he never fit in at point guard either. Five-star point guard Andrew Harrison is ready to take over the important role. Harrison is a great ball handler and has proven he has the smarts and floor vision to be a great passer. His twin, Aaron, will likely spend time at shooting guard. Aaron is less of a playmaker than Andrew, but has a more proven shot and is a more dangerous scorer. Both play well together and are extremely competitive. Sure to get minutes behind the Harrison twins will be senior Jarrod Polson who gives the Wildcats experience, something they will definitely lack. Redshirt senior Jon Hood has had a career full of injuries in Lexington but should still be a contributor. He also brings experience and was on the Kentucky team that won a national championship. Junior guard Sam Malone is only going to be used if their are some injuries or if the Harrison twins struggle to adjust to the college game.

Frontcourt: The loss of shot-blocking center Nerlens Noel leaves a big vacancy at the center spot. 2012-2013 sixth man Willie Cauley-Stein should take over the spot. Cauley-Stein isn't as good as a shot-blocker as Noel nor Anthony Davis but is still a good defender. If he develops a mid range game and becomes a better rebounder he could have a magical sophomore year. The No. 1 overall rated power forward, Julius Randle, should make an impact immediately. Randle is a psychical forward who can help as a rebounder but is an extremely dangerous scorer. The lefty has good touch around the basket and can extend the floor.  Dakari Johnson also is coming in and could play the role Cauley-Stein did last role, as backup center. Johnson embraces contact a little more than Cauley-Stein and makes plays in it. He is a better rebounder, but is smaller and can be beat up by taller opponents. It isn't like he is small; he is 6-10 and can play above the rim. Sophomore Alex Poythress is also back after an average 2012-13. Poythress proved he was extremely athletic but he struggled to score at times and just wasn't the impact player Calipari expected him to be. He has the size (6-7) to be a quality starter at either small forward or power forward. Guard-forward James Young should see major minutes at the small forward spot. Young is a lethal shooter and uses his size to his advantage after smaller defenders. Another freshman, Marcus Lee, gives the Wildcats an athlete who can make plays right away. Lee is a great rebounder and has the athleticism to make some highlight plays. The Wildcats will lose Kyle Wiltjer, who will transfer to Gonzaga but he isn't a huge loss.

Recruiting Rundown (according to ESPN.com)
No.3 Prospect, No.1 PF Julius Randle, PF from MicKinney Texas
No. 5 Prospect, No.1 PG Andrew Harrison, PG from Richmond, Texas
No. 7 Prospect, No. 2 C Dakari Johnson, C from Bronx, New York
No. 8 Prospect, No. 3 SF James Young, SF from Rochester, Michigan
No.9 Prospect, No. 1 SG Aaron Harrison, SG from Richmond, Texas
No. 25 Prospect, No.9 PF Marcus Lee, PF from Antioch, California

PROJECTED LINEUP
PG Andrew Harrison, Freshman
SG Aaron Harrison, Freshman
SF James Young, Freshman
PF Julius Randle, Freshman
C Willie Cauley-Stein, Sophomore
Sixth Alex Poythress, Sophomore

Once more, Kentucky has the talent to win a national championship. They have size, shooting and playmaking ability to dominate the college basketball landscape once again. Though, as usual, there is questions whether all of these fantastic freshman can gel together and play to their potential. Leadership and experience may be an issue and the SEC isn't an easy conference, Florida could give them issues. Kentucky is ready for a huge turnaround and might even be able to keep the national championship in the Bluegrass State.

College Basketball Preview: 2. Kentucky Wildcats

2. Kentucky Wildcats 38-2 in 2011 (16-0 SEC)

Nerlens Noel

John Calipari finally got the monkey off his back. His Wildcats won 38 games, undefeated in the SEC and then handled Kansas in the National Championship. Much of that was due to his freshmen class that included Player of the Year Anthony Davis, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Marquis Teague. Now all three are gone, including veterans Terrence Jones, Doron Lamb and Darius Miller. So, the Wildcats number two in the nation? Yes, because, as Calipari usually does, he reloaded. In comes yet another Top Five recruiting class. A number of under the radar bench players come in and take a bigger role. All that could mean a National Championship if Calipari has enough experience to win it, that is.

Backcourt: Shooting guard Archie Goodwin could be the next big backcourt thing in Lexington. He has the moves to get open shots and also can shoot. He is more of a distributor then Marquis Teague and Doron Lamb. Starting alongside Goodwin in the backcourt could be Twany Beckham, a transfer from Mississippi State. A senior, Beckham shouldn't be a prolific scorer but he has more experience and smarts than Teague. Also sure to get big time minutes is another transfer, Ryan Harrow. Harrow is a sophomore with a lot of potential. He can be dangerous but he hasn't got the minutes to be that way in his fitst seasons. Junior Jarrod Polson provides a much needed backup to Harrow or Beckham. Brian Long nor Sam Malone got much chances to prove themselves but with the losses they should in their sophomore years.

Kyle Wiltjer

Frontcourt: As good as Anthony Davis was last season, freshman Nerlens Noel could be even better. Noel is a monster shot blocker, can rebound and will score also. He provides a huge presence at six feet, ten inches, that can hang with anyone in the nation. Calipari also brought in another dominant center in seven-footer Willie Cauley. Cauley may not start but he'll be Calipari's top bench option in the frontcourt. Yet another freshman should give the Wildcats a Kidd-Gilchrist role they had last year. That freshman is Alex Poythress who is athletic and has good size. He'll do damage inside and out and can also rebound. Poythress is a 5-star recruit who Calipari managed to sneak away from Vanderbilt and Florida. The unknown recruit of 2011, Kyle Wiltjer now has the minutes to do serious damage. He can hit shots from three and has the height to rebound along with the rest of this frontcourt. How good is Wiltjer? I have him as an easy All-SEC forward and maybe even an All-American possibility.
SEC Rank: 1st
Top NBA Prospect: Nerlens Noel
PROJECTED LINEUP:
C Nerlens Noel- Freshman
PF Kyle Wiltjer- Sophomore
SF Alex Poythress- Freshman
SG Archie Goodwin- Freshman
PG Twany Beckham- Senior
Sixth Willie Cauley- Freshman

College Football Preview: SEC

Tyler Bray, Tennessee

Ranking the SEC
1. LSU
2. Alabama
3. Georgia
4. Arkansas
5. South Carolina
6. Florida
7. Auburn
Overview: The SEC has won six straight national championships and it appears that LSU will be the seventh. Les Miles has a super talented squad especially on defense headed by defensive end Sam Montgomery and defensive backs Tyrann Mathieu and Eric Reid. All three of them have a chance to be All-Americans. On offense Zach Mettenberger replaces Jordan Jefferson and Jarrett Lee but he has weaker targets now. Though, he won't throw the ball too much with the talent that the Tigers have in the backfield with Spencer Ware, Michael Ford and Kenny Hilliard. Alabama might have lost a whole lot of talent on defense and Trent Richardson but a repeat isn't out of the question. QB A.J. McCarron has the smarts and potential to be a Heisman candidate. Eddie Lacy and Jalston Fowler should replace Richardson. They have a fantastic offensive line to run behind in Barrett Jones and D.J. Fluker. Aaron Murray is back meaning the Georgia could end up playing in the SEC championship game again. Murray has had two straight 3,000 yard seasons and a third is a lock. On defense the Bulldogs have a whole lot of talent and electrcity. Jarvis Jones is a tackler and a great pass rusher and the secondary could be one of the nation's elite. Arkansas should win ten games once more even without brilliant offensive mind Bobby Petrino. Most of that is thanks to the return of Tyler Wilson and Dennis Johnson. Knile Davis is back after missing all of 2011 with a broken ankle. He was one of the best backs in the conference before the injury. The defense has always been weak but 7 starters are back including Alonzo Highsmith and Darius Winston. South Carolina is a dangerous team if Marcus Lattimore can stay healthy. If not the Gamecocks will still be good with Connor Shaw, Bruce Wilds, Ace Sanders and Jadeveon Clowney, but not great. If Florida was in any different conference they would probably be an easy 10 win team and they still may be in the SEC. Jacoby Brissett will replace John Brantley at the quarterback spot. He has a huge arm and is very athletic. On defense Will Muschamp has this team playing hard with Sharrif Floyd, Jonathan Bostic and Jelani Jenkins. Auburn couldn't figure out who they wanted their QB to be in '11 which resulted in an okay, but not great season. The likely starter this year will be Clint Moseley who played some time last season. Onterio McCaleb is back after Michael Dyer left to Arkansas State, and is an underrated part of this squad. On defense this line is beastly with Corey Lemonier, Jeffrey Whitaker and Nosa Eguae. Texas A&M enters a new chapter this one in the SEC. Gone is Ryan Tannehill but other than him the Aggies have just about everyone back including Christine Michael, Ryan Swope and Damontre Moore. Expect a strong season but no getting past tougher schedule (Arkansas, Alabama, LSU). Missouri also enters its first year in the conference with a talented team. QB James Franklin is back for his junior year after a decent sophomore season. Kendai Lawrence is the back after Henry Josey injured his knee. Expect big things from the nation's top recruit in receiver Dorial Green-Beckham. Tennessee only won one SEC game last season but could bump that mark to around .500. Tyler Bray is back as a sure starter and he has the most talented group of wideouts in the nation to throw too in Da'Rick Rogers, Justin Hunter and tight end Mychal Rivera. I really like Vanderbilt considering they were a below .500 team last year. James Franklin has this team playing hard and they have the most talent since Jay Cutler's days. Jordan Rogers has the bloodlines to be a star and Zac Stacy should be an All-SEC back. Mississippi State did disappoint last year but has more stability at quarterback and will play harder. On defense expect big things from this secondary with Jonathan Banks and Corey Broomfield back. Kentucky is an okay team but should struggle with an even better conference. Max Smith is dangerous at quarterback and he has a great receiver in La'Rod King. Ole Miss didn't win any SEC games last year but has a lot of playmakers in Randall Mackey and Ja-Mes Logan. They might not win much this year or any.

College Basketball Preview: 2. Kentucky Wildcats

Miller is one of two seniors of the 'Cats and must be the leader of the young team.

2. Kentucky Wildcats Key Returnees: F Terrence Jones, G-F Doron Lamb, G Darius Miller
Projected Lineup:
G Marquis Teague- Freshman
G Darius Miller- Senior
F Doron Lamb- Sophomore
F Terrence Jones- Sophomore
C Anthony Davis- Freshman
Sixth- Stacy Poole- Sophomore
Top Recruit- Anthony Davis
As good as the recruiting class of 2009-2010 was this one might be just as good. Guard Marquis Teague will probably follow the path that Derrick Rose, Tyreke Evans, John Wall and Brandon Knight set for him and be the next one and down for John Calipari. Anthony Davis is more of a forward but he'll likely be asked to be a center as the Wildcats can't resist to put him on the bench. Along with those is forwards Michael Gilchrist and Kyle Wiltjer. All of those freshman will join a strong group of upperclassmen. Terrence Jones is the top returner and is a threat in the paint and can handle the ball. Jones and Teague will form a combination as lethal as John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins had. Doron Lamb is a guard who may play small forward who will make plays. Guard Darius Miller and Eloy Vargas are the seniors but neither are especially great. Sophomore Stacy Poole will play more of a role in his sophomore year but he still has flaws. Jon Hood will also get more minutes as a junior and is a great ball handler.
Bottom Line: The Wildcats will likely look like the number one squad through out the regular season but they are too inexperienced to win the title game.

Final Four Picks

National Semifinal:
8 Butler vs. 11 VCU
Both of these have made improbable runs to the the Final Four but only one can advance to the National Championship. My pick? Butler. They have a beast inside in Matt Howard who had a strong game against a tough inside from Florida. Sure, the Bulldogs likely won't be able to keep up pace with the Rams' constant up-tempo attack. Joey Rodriguez is the leader of the running team. He can pass and can score when needed. His quick hands also make him a guy who can steal and make the lay-up on the other side. Sweet Bradford Burgess is a guy who needs to score(15.8 points this year) and also needs to defend Shelvin Mack. Mack, the talented guard who led Butler in points with 21.3 points per game has to have a big game in order for the Bulldogs to get back to the title game.
Butler, 69 VCU, 63
National Semifinal:
3 UConn vs. 4 Kentucky
Two of the most historic basketball teams in history will square off in a great Final Four matchup. The Huskies finished off ninth in the Big East but had the talent enough to make the run all the way to the national semis. Kemba Walker needs to be slowed down if the Wildcats hope to win. But, he isn't the only option thanks to guard Jeremy Lamb who had a big game in the win over Arizona. Alex Oriakhi needs to be a big man inside that can stop Terrence Jones and Josh Harrellson. Harrellson has improved dramatically, not in scoring, but, in overall play. Terrence Jones has opened up tons of options for the Wildcats thanks to his dribbling ability despite being a power forward. The 'Cats hope desperately that their little experience won't matter in this war. The experience that is left- mostly just DeAndre Liggins and Darius Miller- will have to have big games. And, they likely will.
Kentucky, 77 UConn, 70

Kentucky Reaches 2,000 Wins

Last night Kentucky reached 2,000 total wins in the history of the program with a win over La Salle. The Wildcats are ranked number 3 in the nation and this could be a truly historical season. UNC is chasing the 'Cats with 15 to 20 games until 2,000.